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What I really like about the dial of the DBG – aside from the rich detailing and crispness – is the relative lack of reflective surfaces. This makes everything extremely legible. What makers of many cheap watches don’t seem to understand is that dial reflectivity is not your friend. Most of the time it results in dials being illegible when exposed to light. Arnold & Son uses a range of different textures in a pleasing way to produce a stunning, yet highly legible dial that is further enhanced by a nicely AR-coated sapphire crystal. One of the time dials uses Roman numerals, while the other uses Arabic numerals. The latter dial also has “filled in” hands while the former dial has skeletonized hands. These are further reflected in the 24 hour dial so that it is clear which hand refers to which dial. There is of course a lack of luminant for night viewing, but that is common in more formal or traditionally styled watches such as this. The hands are otherwise blued and very attractive.

Once again we have an opportunity to anthropomorphize a watch face. It isn’t difficult to imagine the two larger subdials as eyes and the bottom open section of the watch as a large open mouth with balance wheels for teeth. Having an exposed balance wheel showing the “heart beat” of a watch is mostly always attractive. Here Arnold & Son doubles that up with the dual balance wheels. Not only does this enhance the visual interest of the design, but it also adds a unique harmony as each of the wheels oscillate in union. There is something highly mesmerizing about watches with two exposed balance wheels on the dial. The balance wheel bridges, along with the rest of the movement are nicely decorated in a high-end timepiece manner and offer a reassuringly expensive feel.

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I want to give credit to Arnold & Son for releasing the DBG collection in both 18k rose gold as well as steel, which opens up the collection to more people (but that doesn’t mean it is inexpensive). The case is 44mm wide and sits pleasantly low on the wrist with a relatively thin case size. Those eager to have their watch slide under their shirt sleeves won’t have a problem with the DBG. The watch also sits very comfortably on the wrist with its comfortably fitted alligator strap. For me, the size and overall feel of the case was spot-on with today’s expectations of what a timepiece of this ilk should look like.

From a style perspective, the DBG offers both traditional flavor along with a sense of thinking outside the box. It is a unique watch, but one that isn’t weird or too “wild.” The Arnold & Son DBG in steel is the ref. 1DGAS.S01A.C121S and is priced at $28,000. In 18k rose gold it is the ref. 1DGAP.W01A.C120P and priced at $42,500. arnoldandson.com

Necessary Data
>Brand: Arnold & Son
>Model: DBG ref. 1DGAS.S01A.C121S
>Price: $28,000 as tested
>Size: 44mm
>Would reviewer personally wear it: Yes
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: Experienced watch lovers who like to look of conservative watch but prefer a unique design.
>Worst characteristic of watch: DBS version of the watch seems to have limited marketability. Would be more perfect with a power reserve indicator.
>Best characteristic of watch: Beautiful to look and with a useful design.

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